Editing Lode Runner (section)

==Reception==
''Lode Runner'' was very successful. It was Broderbund's second best-selling Commodore game as of late 1987,<ref name="ferrell198712">{{cite news | url=https://archive.org/stream/1987-12-computegazette/Compute_Gazette_Issue_54_1987_Dec#page/n17/mode/2up | title=The Commodore Games That Live On And On | work=Compute's Gazette | date=December 1987 | access-date=24 January 2015 | author=Ferrell, Keith | pages=18–22}}</ref> and sales had surpassed 300,000 copies by August 1984.<ref>{{cite web|first=Susan|last=Blocker|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89260965/the-gazette/|title=Iowan designs hot-selling video game|newspaper=[[The Gazette (Cedar Rapids, Iowa)|The Gazette]]|page=20|date=August 23, 1984|access-date=November 20, 2021|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> It was the top-selling computer game in the United States during 1983. By 1985, the game had sold just as many copies in Japan.<ref name=":0" /> {{As of|1999}}, Hudson Soft's Famicom (NES) version had sold about 1.5 million cartridges in Japan and all versions of the game had sold over 3 million units worldwide, including more than 2 million sales in Japan alone.<ref name="loderunner">{{cite web |date=February 17, 1999 |title=Lock'n'Lode |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/1999/02/18/locknlode |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190511123027/http://www.ign.com/articles/1999/02/18/locknlode |archive-date=May 11, 2019 |accessdate=April 22, 2017 |work=[[IGN]] |publisher=[[Ziff Davis]]}}</ref>

''[[Softline (magazine)|Softline]]'' in 1983 praised ''Lode Runner'', calling it "smooth, thoughtful, and quite addictive". The magazine approved of its large number of unique levels, level editor ("the possibilities are astounding"), and emphasis on "wits and strategy" over violence.<ref name="albert19830708">{{cite news | url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1983&pub=6&id=12 | title=Lode Runner | work=Softline | date=Jul–Aug 1983 | access-date=28 July 2014 | author=Albert, Dave | pages=23–24}}</ref> ''[[Computer Gaming World]]'' praised ''Lode Runner''{{'}}s unusually easy-to-use level editor and the strategy necessary for an arcade title, describing it as "one of the few thinking men's arcade games".<ref name="CGW">{{cite magazine | date = October 1983 | last = Besnard | first = John | magazine = [[Computer Gaming World]] | title = Lode Runner | url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1983&pub=2&id=12 | page = 20}}</ref> In August 1984, ''Computer Gaming World'' held a contest for the best reader-built level.<ref name="CGWcontest">{{citation |title=Lode Runner Contest |date=August 1984 |url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1984&pub=2&id=17 |magazine=[[Computer Gaming World]] |page=22}}</ref> Praises for the introduction of strategy into the "climbing game" genre and for the intuitive level editor were repeated in ''Video'' magazine's review of the game as well as praise for its graphics and animation, with the Apple II version being described as "stand[ing] out far ahead of the pack".<ref>{{cite magazine |last1= Kunkel |first1= Bill |author-link1= Bill Kunkel (journalist)|last2= Katz |first2= Arnie |author-link2= Arnie Katz|date= November 1983 |title= Arcade Alley: Wintertime Winners |magazine= [[Video (magazine)|Video]]|publisher= Reese Communications|volume= 7|issue= 8|pages= 38–39|issn= 0147-8907}}</ref>{{rp|39}}

''[[Ahoy!]]'' in 1984 called the game "a top-notch action game that requires both a quick mind and an agile joystick". With the "easy-to-use game generator", the magazine concluded that "''Lode Runner'' is one of the best games available for the C-64. Unconditionally and wholeheartedly recommended".<ref name="davies198403">{{cite news | url=https://archive.org/stream/Ahoy_Issue_03_1984-03_Ion_International_US#page/n57/mode/2up | title=Lode Runner | work=Ahoy! | date=Mar 1984 | access-date=27 June 2014 | author=Davies, Lloyd | pages=59–60}}</ref> ''[[PC Magazine]]'' gave the game 16.25 out of 18 points. The magazine called the game "a tour de force of American ingenuity ... the first release in a long, long time that can honestly bear the title, 'computer game' ... ''Lode Runner'' uses the power of the PC to create something much more than a video version of Ping Pong. This game requires thought, too." The magazine praised the IBM PC version's graphics, increasingly difficult level design, and the level editor.<ref name="sandler19840417">{{cite news | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9eJxx_ZGKngC&pg=PA335 | title=Haute Cuisine and Hot Dogs | work=PC Magazine | date=1984-04-17 | access-date=24 October 2013 | author=Sandler, Corey | pages=335}}</ref> ''The Commodore 64 Home Companion'' said that "there's lots of education hidden in" the level editor, concluding that ''Lode Runner'' "is one of the first of a new breed of computer game that lets the player be a creator".<ref name=C64HC>{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/stream/The_Commodore_64_Home_Companion#page/n167/mode/2up|title=Broderbund Software|work=The Commodore 64 Home Companion|year=1984|access-date=August 19, 2016|pages=166–167}}</ref>

By 1985, the game was still selling well, with ''Video'' magazine reporting that it was the 6th best-selling recreational title in March<ref>{{cite magazine|last1= Ditlea |first1= Steve |last2= Onosco |first2= Tim |last3= Kunkel |first3= Bill |author-link3= Bill Kunkel (journalist)|date= February 1985 |title= Random Access: Best Sellers/Recreation |magazine= [[Video (magazine)|Video]]|publisher= Reese Communications|volume= 8|issue= 11|pages= 34–35|issn= 0147-8907}}</ref>{{rp|35}} and April of that year.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1= Onosco |first1= Tim |last2= Kohl |first2= Louise |last3= Kunkel |first3= Bill |author-link3= Bill Kunkel (journalist)|last4= Garr|first4= Doug |author-link4= Doug Garr|date= March 1985 |title= Random Access: Best Sellers/Recreation |magazine= [[Video (magazine)|Video]]|publisher= Reese Communications|volume= 8|issue= 12|pages= 42–43|issn= 0147-8907}}</ref>{{rp|43}} ''[[Zzap!64]]'' called the Commodore 64 version "not one of the most recent games but certainly one of the best ... a classic for a long time to come ... graphically minuscule and aurally crude, the game's sheer addiction kept my eyes propped open until the owls went to bed".<ref name="zzap198506">{{cite news | url=https://archive.org/stream/zzap64-magazine-002/ZZap_64_Issue_002_1985_Jun#page/n71/mode/2up | title=Lode Runner | work=Zzap!64 | date=June 1985 | access-date=26 October 2013 | pages=73 | type=review}}</ref> In 1986 ''Ahoy!'' described the Commodore 64 version's graphics as "sparse, but attractive" with "evocatively animated" characters.<ref name="ahoy198604">{{Cite magazine |last1=Kunkel |first1=Bill |last2=Katz |first2=Arnie |date=April 1986 |title=Think Fast! Action-Strategy Games for the Commodore 64 |url=https://archive.org/details/ahoy-magazine-28/page/n40/mode/1up?view=theater |access-date=2024-09-04 |magazine=Ahoy! |pages=41–45}}</ref>

In 1984, ''Lode Runner'' was awarded "1984 Computer [[List of Game of the Year awards|Game of the Year]]" at the 5th annual [[Arkie Awards]]. Judges praised its "outstanding design", and described it as "fascinating", "irresistible", and as "the thinking player's climbing conquest".<ref>{{cite magazine |last1= Kunkel |first1= Bill |author-link1= Bill Kunkel (journalist)|last2= Katz |first2= Arnie |author-link2= Arnie Katz|date= February 1984 |title= Arcade Alley: The 1984 Arcade Awards, Part II |magazine= [[Video (magazine)|Video]]|publisher= Reese Communications|volume= 7|issue= 11|pages= 28–29|issn= 0147-8907}}</ref>{{rp|28}} ''Softline'' readers named ''Lode Runner'' the most popular Apple and fourth most-popular Atari program of 1983.<ref name="stgame19840304">{{cite news | url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1984&pub=6&id=16 | title=The Best and the Rest | work=St.Game | date=Mar–Apr 1984 | access-date=28 July 2014 | pages=49}}</ref> In 1993 the [[ZX Spectrum|Spectrum]] version of the game was voted number 37 in the ''[[Your Sinclair]] Official Top 100 Games of All Time''.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=YS Top 100 Games of All Time|magazine=Your Sinclair|date=September 1993}}</ref> [[GameSpot]] named ''Lode Runner'' as one of the "Greatest Games of All Time".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/greatestgames/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525052230/http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/greatestgames/index.html|title=The Greatest Games of All Time|archive-date=25 May 2011|work=gamespot.com}}</ref> In 1996, ''Computer Gaming World'' declared ''Lode Runner'' the 80th-best computer game ever released.<ref name=cgw150>{{cite magazine | author=Staff | title=150 Best (and 50 Worst) Games of All Time | magazine=[[Computer Gaming World]] | date=November 1996 | issue=148 | pages=63–65, 68, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 84, 88, 90, 94, 98}}</ref> ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' in 2010 rated ''Lode Runner'' #1 game in "The 10 Greatest Games for the Apple II" list.<ref>{{cite news
|url = https://techland.time.com/2010/01/06/the-10-greatest-games-for-the-apple-ii/
|title = The 10 Greatest Games for the Apple II
|first = Lev
|last = Grossman
|magazine = Time
|date = January 6, 2010}}</ref> ''[[Game Informer]]'' placed the game 52nd on their top 100 video games of all time in 2001.<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Cork|first=Jeff|title=Game Informer's Top 100 Games Of All Time (Circa Issue 100)|url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2009/11/16/game-informer-s-top-100-games-of-all-time-circa-issue-100.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091119071214/http://gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2009/11/16/game-informer-s-top-100-games-of-all-time-circa-issue-100.aspx|url-status=live|archive-date=November 19, 2009|access-date=2020-12-01|magazine=Game Informer|language=en}}</ref>

[[Orson Scott Card]] wrote in ''[[Compute!]]'' in 1989 that its editor was the first game that let him and his family express their creativity through gaming.<ref name="card198901">{{cite news | url=https://archive.org/stream/1989-01-compute-magazine/Compute_Issue_104_1989_Jan#page/n13/mode/2up | title=Gameplay | work=Compute! | date=January 1989 | access-date=10 November 2013 | author=Card, Orson Scott | pages=12}}</ref> ''[[Tetris]]'' designer [[Alexey Pajitnov]] stated in 2008 that ''Lode Runner'' was his favorite puzzle game for many years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.next-gen.biz/features/interview-man-who-changed-everything|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120907030140/http://www.next-gen.biz/features/interview-man-who-changed-everything|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-09-07|title=Interview: The Man Who Changed Everything|access-date=2008-01-01}}</ref>